It's closin' time! New York visitors hoping to catch up on some recent Broadway hits better hurry up in this record month of shuttering shows.

Already in January, top earners like "Hairspray" and "Spamalot" and seasonal hits like "Slava's Snowshow" and "White Christmas" have closed their doors. This week, the much-TONY'd "Gypsy" and the Katie Holmes vehicle "All My Sons" joins them; next week, it's time for Best New Musical winner "Spring Awakening." Judging by last week's grosses, Best Play winner "August: Osage County," Daniel Radcliffe nudie pick "Equus" and Piven's folly "Speed-the-Plow" will be next.

On the bright side, now that you know these are not long for this world, you can stop by the new TKTS booth--now accepting credit cards for the insolvent!--in Times Square for some last-minute sales. Given flexibility, theater crazies might indeed find it to be the most wonderful time of the year after all.

Related Stories:
· All Together Now: A Month of Big Finales on Broadway [NYT]
· Jeremy Piven Flees Sinking Ship [Jaunted]
· Broadway coverage [Jaunted]

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As show closings have rippled through the Great White Way this winter, one actor may have decided he's had enough. "Entourage" star Jeremy Piven got middling-to-good reviews in his role as a producer with a conscience in the revival of David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow," but Piven abruptly dropped out of the show this week, citing... high levels of mercury?

Was the travel show-making Piven really under doctor's orders to stop doing the show, for which he had signed a contract through February 22? Author Mamet apparently doesn't think so, joking to Variety that Piven "is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer." Producers are disappointed that Piven has been spotted partying around town and is chronically late to his own show--which would explain why the play started 20 minutes late when we attended.

"Speed-the-Plow" outlived the other Mamet revival on Broadway this fall, the doomed-before-it-started "American Buffalo" starring Cedric the Entertainer and Haley Joel Osment, but the loss of star power will undoubtedly hurt ticket sales. If you're holding tickets, you may be able to get a refund, but we'd actually urge you not to: **UPDATE 4:30PM** William H. Macy and TONY winner Norbert Leo Butz have stepped up to replace Piven through the run of the show. These guys may actually make better Mametians and more congenial sparring partners with costar Raul Esparza. (Macy, of course, cofounded a theater company with Mamet in N.Y.C.) Having seen the show back in the Pivenian days, we're considering seeing it again. Think of it as doing your bit for Broadway.

Related Stories:
· Piven Speeds Away from "Plow" [Variety]
· Star Power Boosts 2 Shows [Jaunted]
· A Journey of a Lifetime with Jeremy Piven [Jaunted]
· Broadway Shows coverage [Jaunted]

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High Definition television is causing a resurgence in travel themed programming. We tend to think the genesis for these programs was the oft mocked, briefly aired Taradise. This new breed of travel programming is often shallow, mildly informative, and sometimes even unintentionally entertaining. We will let you know which of these shows we consider either best-of-breed, or unwatchable, we can't decide. Feel free to submit your own suggestions.

Travel Show: Journey of a Lifetime with Jeremy Piven

Channel:Discovery HD

Broadcast Times: Various

Typical Episode: Jeremy Piven, in India, wearing U2 t-shirt, renting a moped and calling it a motorcycle.

Typcial Dialougue: "The intensity of this city was softened by this oasis that was inspiring and humbling."

Typical Web Board Show Comment: "You guys took it way too seriously and/or were way too sober when you were watching it. I mean Jeremy Piven trying to pick up that Jewish shama? And then trying to pick up that Bollywood star? Seriously I thought it was hilarious the incredible cognitive dissonance he showed. And yes after the first half we devised a drinking based on whether he said "namaste" or two drinks if he hit on someone inappropriately."

Little Known Fact: Jeremy Piven's hair plugs don't hold up in High Def.

Hybrid: Apocalypse Now meets PCU

Related Stories:
· HD Travel Show Review Coverage [Jaunted]
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